Introduction to Online Cricket Betting
| Updated: November 6, 2025
No matter whether you are a novice who bets just for fun or an experienced punter, we are convinced that you have heard how popular cricket is nowadays. It is often referred to as the second most popular sport after soccer. Gambling enthusiasts therefore have no difficulty finding a trustworthy online sportsbook that includes the sport in its portfolio. It is always a good idea to bet with major brands, as they have proven over time that their websites provide advantageous features that contribute to a hassle-free betting experience.
It is difficult to determine where cricket has the largest fan base. Cricket definitely dominates the Asian scene, especially in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. However, one of the most famous events is the legendary Ashes battle between England and Australia. We will discuss this and other landmark leagues and tournaments a little later in this article. Remarkable technological advances in recent years have changed the gambling scene in all sports, including cricket. It is becoming easier and more convenient to place bets, and punters are attracted by innovative features, generous prizes, welcome bonuses, and other promotional offers.
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Cricket is not one of the notably fast-paced sports, but it is quite complex and characterized by many variations and diverse factors that affect the outcome, so it is among the most challenging disciplines to bet on.
Basics of Online Cricket Betting
Regardless of the sport, it is crucial to know its technical details and understand at least the basic game rules in order to make accurate predictions. Cricket is a diverse discipline that has changed over the years. Its rules have been amended several times, and new formats have been added, thus boosting cricket’s popularity to an unprecedented level.
Understanding Cricket Betting Odds
There are many factors to consider before betting on a cricket match. First of all, you should know what the different odds formats tell you about the event on which you plan to wager. They depend more on the punter’s country of residence than on the sport itself. Novices in cricket betting tend to be dismayed when they encounter odds presented in an unfamiliar format. In fact, they have nothing to worry about, as all reputable online betting platforms allow users to adjust their accounts to see the odds in their preferred format. Moreover, there are numerous independent odds converters on the Internet, but you will hardly need to use them.
In the short table at the end of this paragraph, you can see the same betting odds expressed in the three most popular odds formats. Cricket betting aficionados in India and Pakistan prefer the decimal odds format, which is considered the easiest to understand and use. Generally speaking, decimals show the return of a $1 bet. Let’s see how to calculate your potential profit. According to the data in our table, Team 1 to win comes with odds of 5.2. If you wager $80 and your prediction is right, your net profit will be $336 (80×5.2 − 80).
Other regions where cricket is particularly popular among viewers and punters are the United Kingdom and Australia, where the most commonly used odds format is fractional. This format has a lot in common with the decimal format, with some specifics, of course. Fractional odds represent the ratio between the possible profit and the amount wagered. Here, bettors see how much they will get for every dollar they bet. Odds of 8/1 and a stake of $80 mean that, in the case of a correct prediction, you will win $640 in addition to your initial stake (80×8 + 80).
The name of the American odds format is descriptive enough regarding the region where it is predominantly applied. Its structure is quite specific and provides plenty of information about the upcoming cricket match. Moneyline betting odds are depicted with a minus or a plus sign in front of the number, thus indicating the favorite and, respectively, the underdog. The greater the implied probability that the favorite will win, the bigger the difference between the – and + odds. When checking odds for the favorite, punters see how much they need to wager to add $100 to their bankroll. From the data in the table below, it is evident that the clear favorite is Team 2, and to win $100 you will have to bet $667. However, if you think the bookmaker has incorrectly put Team 1 in the underdog position (odds of + 520) and decide to back it with a $100 stake, you may enjoy a total payout of $620.
| Odds Formats Comparison | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Outcome | Decimal Odds Format | Fractional Odds Format | American Odds Format |
| Team 1 to Win | 5.2 | 4.2/1 | + 520 |
| Team 2 to Win | 1.15 | 0.15/1 | – 667 |
| Tie | 9.0 | 8/1 | + 800 |
Main Cricket Bet Types
The complexity of cricket, which we mentioned above, not only makes it interesting to watch but also contributes to a significant variety of betting markets. This is one of the main reasons why the sport enjoys consistent interest from avid gambling enthusiasts. The number of bet types for the available matches varies widely, from 2-3 for events with little-known club teams to over 250 for major international tournaments. If you are just starting out as a cricket punter, it makes sense to gain initial experience with simpler types of bets.
Match Outcome/Series Winner: the name speaks for itself. Betting on the match outcome is the most common wager type, which is not much different from the Winner bets in other sports. All you have to do is pick which team is going to win the match. If you come upon an online bookmaker offering a three-way match betting market, you will be able to select a draw option as well.
Series Winner is a similar type of bet, with the difference that you have to wait for the whole series of matches to be completed to know whether your bet is successful. A draw is far more likely, because the longer duration allows for twists and turns. Although bookies have the right to set their own bet-settling rules, in the general case, if a series is abandoned for any reason, the team that is ahead after the last completed match in the series will be considered the winner.
While betting on the match outcome is the perfect option for novices, the Outright Winner market is more suitable for competent betting enthusiasts, as it is harder to predict and therefore carries a higher degree of risk. Punters’ goal is to predict who will win an entire tournament, like the ICC World Test Championship, for example. Taking the risk of betting on the eventual title holder is rewarded with a potentially lucrative profit. The sooner you place a bet, the more favorable cricket betting odds you can secure.
Over/Under bets are familiar from other popular sports like football and basketball. Online sportsbooks publish an overall score they believe a certain cricket event will reach, and punters must predict whether the actual result will be over or under this number. In addition to this combined match bet, some bookies allow wagering on whether each team will score more or fewer runs than a predefined number.
Among the most interesting and challenging bet types are cricket player props that are related to different aspects of the game. Of these, probably the most commonly placed wager is Top Batsman, where you have to predict which player will score the highest number of runs within a certain event. A fascinating variation is the Batsman Contest, which pits two players against each other in terms of most sixes or runs scored.
Landmark Cricket Events Covered by Online Bookmakers
Given the information provided so far, we believe that you have already gained an idea of why cricket is considered an intriguing discipline, especially suitable for placing a variety of bet types. Another strong argument in favor of this sport is the rich array of events avidly followed by thousands of sports fans and featured on online betting platforms. In fact, there is such an abundance of leagues, championships, and tournaments around the globe that it would hardly be possible to cover everything within the present article. However, our team has made a selection of the most prominent cricket events, and you are warmly welcome to take a look.
ICC Cricket World Cup
Undoubtedly, this is the most popular cricket tournament in the world. The ICC Cricket World Cup is an international championship, which is held every four years and is arguably the premier global one-day cricket competition. It is not only the biggest cricket bash but also one of the most-watched sporting events in the world. Australia is the most successful country, being the only team to win three consecutive World Cup tournaments.
In its current format, the competition includes a qualifying phase, which takes place in the three years preceding each edition of the World Cup. The ranking after the qualifiers determines which 10 teams qualify for the tournament phase (the host country qualifies automatically). The tournament itself takes place within about a month. It is expected that in 2027 the format will be changed to include 14 teams.
ICC Champions Trophy
This is probably the cricket tournament with the greatest number of changes over the years. It was first established in 1998 under the name ICC KnockOut Tournament, which was changed to Champions Trophy in 2002. The initial idea was to stage a short competition aimed at raising money to develop cricket in non-Test-playing countries such as Kenya and Bangladesh. As it experienced impressive commercial success, it was later hosted in top cricket regions, namely India and England.
Not only the name but also the number of participants has changed over time. In the beginning, all members of the ICC took part, while between 2000 and 2004 associate members were entrants as well. In 2009, another change was introduced, allowing only the eight highest-ranked teams in the ICC ODI Rankings to take part. Although England is one of the best-performing cricket nations, it has never won the ICC Champions Trophy. Despite the planned termination of this tournament, it was later decided to reinstate the event in 2025.
T20 World Cup
Often referred to as the most entertaining tournament, this is the shortest major cricket competition, featuring some of the biggest sixes. The T20 World Cup is an international championship and is organized by cricket’s governing body, the International Cricket Council. The first ten teams in the current rankings participate in the World Cup, accompanied by six more that have advanced through the T20 World Cup Qualifier.
The global COVID pandemic led to multiple reschedulings of the 2021 edition. Finally, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup was held in the United Arab Emirates and Oman from 17 October to 14 November 2021. Evidence of the continuing popularity of the T20 World Cup came in June 2021, when the ICC announced that in 2024, 2026, 2028, and 2030 the tournament will be expanded to include 20 teams. The venues for these four editions have already been determined, starting with joint hosting by the United States and the West Indies in 2024.
Ashes Series
When talking about noteworthy cricket tournaments, one can never go without mentioning the legendary Ashes Series, the long-term rivalry between England and Australia. The Ashes date back to 1882, when Australia secured its first Test victory on English soil. One such series consists of five Tests, conducted once every two years, as the two countries take turns hosting the event.
The trophy is a small ashes urn and remains in the hands of the team that last won the series. Australia has been the bookies’ favorite for the last few years due to its excellent statistics and the top-notch balance and power of the national team.
Indian Premier League
The IPL features ten Indian teams and is the most-attended cricket league in the world. The commercialization of the sport has brought well-paid international players to the country, who play side by side with local rising stars and experienced veterans. Because there are only ten teams, the season can be completed within approximately two months, usually between March and May.
The above list is in no way exhaustive; it merely shows what types of cricket events punters can find on online betting platforms. Other reputable cricket leagues and competitions include the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20), the NatWest Series, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the ACC Asia Cup, and the Commonwealth Bank Series (Australian Tri-Series).
Elements of Good Cricket Betting Sites
One of the most sought-after features of cricket betting sites is live betting, which allows punters to place their bets at any time, including during matches. Thus, sports bettors have the chance to adjust their betting strategy in accordance with what is currently happening on the field. What makes cricket live wagering so exciting is that the odds for in-play betting markets are dynamic and automatically change as the event progresses. Top-notch sportsbooks also offer live streams of major cricket events, enabling logged-in users to follow every bowl and run without leaving the website.
Making profitable cricket bets largely depends on having access to comprehensive statistical information. Top online sportsbooks do not want their users to be distracted by looking for it on other websites, and that is why they provide detailed data related to each match or series. The information comprises the rivalry history between the two teams, the results of their last matches, next scheduled events, and more. No matter how popular a sport is, there will always be newcomers to the online betting industry who need assistance to start wagering safely. Bookies concerned about the well-being of their registered users have taken care to compile useful information regarding basic cricket betting rules, explanations of the different betting markets, and special-purpose blogs covering news as well as cricket betting tips.
Cricket betting sites that enjoy large user bases are distinguished by user-friendly layouts and an abundance of betting markets. For less popular matches, punters can usually wager only on the Winner market, while for major events you can choose among hundreds of bets, including but not limited to different Over/Under options, Totals, Player Props, and more. Just one click or tap on the selected betting market adds it to your bet slip, which will automatically calculate your potential winnings after you enter the amount you wish to wager. If you have included a live event in your bet slip and it ends before you manage to confirm your bet, the sportsbook will duly notify you.
Online Cricket Betting Tips
So far in our guide, we have tried to describe cricket comprehensively as a sport perfectly suited for placing bets. Newcomers to cricket wagering, however, may find putting so much information into practice a rather difficult task. If you are one of these punters or are just not sure how to get started, keep on reading and get acquainted with our tips for a successful cricket betting experience.
Make extensive research your priority
We know that you have seen this advice in connection with other sports too, but when it comes to cricket, conducting detailed research is extremely important. Cricket is one of the disciplines in which mental preparation is as important as physical strength and skills. These two aspects are inextricably linked, and periods of poor form or any health issues can have an adverse impact on the player and, hence, the team’s chances of finishing a match or tournament as the winner. Being aware of the most up-to-date information possible about the form of cricket players, as well as their possible injuries, is crucial. Do not rely solely on official sources and news websites; keep an eye on social media as well.
The narrower your focus, the better
It takes a long time to claim that you have fully mastered the specifics of any field, and with a complex and diverse sport like cricket, this is almost impossible. That is why it is a better betting strategy to focus on one type of competition instead of jumping on every single cricket match that comes along. There is a substantial difference between the way a Test match unfolds over five days and the intensity and high adrenaline of a Twenty20 game that ends in just a few hours. It may not be a bad idea to concentrate on a tournament like the T20 Blast (Vitality Blast) when you are still a cricket betting rookie.
Check weather and pitch conditions
As a sport played exclusively outdoors, cricket is highly vulnerable to weather conditions. Even without considering extremes like heavy rain, unexpected storms, or excessive heat, matches and series are held in regions with such different climates that players’ performances are inevitably affected. Dry and dusty pitches are hardly the favorite terrain for British players accustomed to the wet English weather.
Another factor that influences pitch quality is the duration of the cricket event. By the end of a five-day series, for example, the terrain is already quite worn out, and mistakes and injuries are more likely. Furthermore, black-soil pitches are preferred by bowlers, while green grass coverage is favorable for batsmen and pacers.
Do not stick to one betting platform
Even if you think you have found the best possible cricket betting site, you should set up accounts with a few more bookies. This will ensure that you can take advantage of the competition between individual sportsbooks, which sometimes publish unusually favorable odds or short-term price boosts to attract new users. Another advantage of having multiple betting accounts is that you have access to a greater number of bonuses and promotional offers. When a big tournament like the Ashes or the Indian Premier League is played, betting platforms are very likely to offer extraordinary bonuses. Nowadays, many bookies try to retain the interest of their patrons by providing lucrative VIP programs and prizes.
Keep track of your cricket betting experience
It is very important to record each win and loss together with the corresponding betting odds, because this will allow you to analyze your performance and make adjustments in your practice if you notice weaknesses. Maintaining this type of information will also help you better control your bankroll so that betting on cricket matches remains fun and profitable.